- The DB Sync and Marlowe teams made significant progress in blockchain technology and smart contract optimization for the Cardano network.
- The Hydra and Mithril teams focused on scaling solutions and improving data certification for Cardano transactions.
Core Technology Developments in the Cardano Ecosystem
This week in the Cardano ecosystem, the DB Sync team diligently prepared and tested a new version for the mainnet, aiming to enhance the functionality and modularity of Conway, a crucial element in the Cardano network’s infrastructure. These advancements are part of an ongoing effort to streamline and optimize the underlying technology of the Cardano blockchain.
Marlowe’s Strategic Advancements in Smart Contracts
The Marlowe team, dedicated to improving smart contract functionality on Cardano, focused on creating a non-SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) process for running benchmarks. This initiative aims to enhance performance evaluations, a critical aspect for the stability and efficiency of smart contracts. Additionally, the team resolved references to the Wolfram oracle, a key component in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data used in smart contracts. They also merged real-world Marlowe and Marlowe hackathon repositories into the main contracts folder, streamlining their development process.
Furthermore, the Marlowe team deprecated several modules, including marlowe-streamer, marlowe-signing, marlowe-scaling, and marlowe-finder, to align with the project’s evolving direction. They also updated security documentation and developer guides to maintain compliance and ensure the highest security standards.
Scaling Solutions: The Hydra and Mithril Initiatives
On the scaling front, the Hydra team held annual roadmapping sessions, introducing significant API changes to improve transaction processing. They worked on off-chain logic for incremental decommits, a critical aspect of optimizing blockchain transactions. Additionally, the team implemented a backend for the hydra-explorer, enhancing the overall functionality of the Hydra scaling solution.
The Mithril team continued to innovate by implementing a new data type for certifying Cardano transactions within Mithril networks. This development is instrumental in ensuring the integrity and authenticity of transactions across the network. The team’s efforts also extended to enhancing the resilience of Cardano’s node database and expanding end-to-end testing coverage.
Voltaire & Sanchonet: Governance and Security
This week also saw significant developments in the Voltaire and Sanchonet projects. The teams focused on developing features that enable stake pool operators to vote on crucial protocol parameter updates, reinforcing the decentralized governance structure of the Cardano network. They addressed critical bugs and implemented safeguards to enhance the network’s security and efficiency.
Catalyst: Community Engagement and Funding Innovation
Project Catalyst, Cardano’s community-driven innovation fund, entered its second week of voting in Fund11. With nearly 5,000 wallets participating, over 150,000 votes were cast across 920 proposals, showcasing the community’s commitment to funding Cardano‘s innovation.
Education: Building Knowledge and Skills
In education, the team is collaborating with the Africa Blockchain Center for the second iteration of the Cardano developer training course. They are also updating lessons in the Haskell Bootcamp course, furthering their commitment to building a knowledgeable and skilled community of developers within the Cardano ecosystem.
Stay tuned for continuous updates on these exciting developments as Cardano continues to push the boundaries of blockchain technology.
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